Lipid profile test means

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a type of cholesterol in the blood. Blood tests can help determine a person’s LDL cholesterol levels. Having unhealthy levels of LDL cholesterol may increase a person’s risk of serious conditions, such as heart disease. Cholesterol moves around a person’s body via lipoproteins in their bloodstream. There are two types in the blood: LDL cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Some people may refer to LDL as “bad” cholesterol and HDL as “good” cholesterol. The body uses cholesterol to make cells, LDL blood tests can help a doctor monitor a person’s LDL cholesterol levels and treat any issues quickly. This article will cover what an LDL test is, why it can be necessary, and how medical professionals and people at home carry out the test. Share on Pinterest Sean Locke/Stocksy LDL tests are a form of blood test that doctors use to measure the amount of LDL cholesterol in a person’s bloodstream. LDL tests can be part of a lipid panel test, or they can measure LDL levels directly. Lipid panels can help doctors calculate LDL cholesterol levels by measuring the following: • total cholesterol • HDL cholesterol levels • triglycerides, which are the The number of LDL cholesterol particles that a person has can help a doctor determine their risk of cardiovascular disease. High numbers of LDL cholesterol particles can mean that a person has a A doctor can use the measurements of the three components above to estimate a per...

Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a protein that transports cholesterol in the blood. High levels of Lp(a) in the blood can increase the likelihood of plaques or blood clots forming in the arteries. As a result of this effect, Lp(a) can increase the risk of A doctor can carry out a blood test to check a person’s Lp(a) levels if they suspect that they may be high. In this article, we look at what determines Lp(a) levels, what different test results might mean, and what steps a person can take to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. Share on Pinterest Eduard Goricev/EyeEm/Getty Images Lipoproteins are a type of protein that transports cholesterol, a fatty substance, in the blood. There are two main types of lipoprotein: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which people may refer to as good cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad, cholesterol. The body needs a certain amount of cholesterol to function well. Cholesterol plays However, high levels of LDL cholesterol can cause Lp(a) is a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. Also, apolipoprotein(a), a protein that makes up part of Lp(a), can prevent enzymes from dissolving blood clots, so it may increase the risk of clots forming in the arteries. An Lp(a) test is not a routine test. However, doctors • a family history of early cardiovascular disease • cardiovascular disease but only slightly raised cholesterol or lipid levels • an inherited higher risk of high cholesterol levels The doctor w...

A doctor may instruct a person to fast before taking a cholesterol test. This was once standard practice, but new studies are changing this recommendation. A The body needs some cholesterol to help produce A cholesterol test, also known as a lipids panel, measures several different types of cholesterol, including: • high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or “good cholesterol” • low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or “bad cholesterol” • triglycerides, the chemical form in which most fats exist To work out a person’s total cholesterol score, a healthcare professional adds the HDL and LDL cholesterol levels to 20 percent of the triglyceride level. A doctor will use these results to assess a person’s risk of developing Read on to find out more about fasting before a cholesterol test. Share on Pinterest Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images Standard practice used to require a person to fast for 9–12 hours before taking a cholesterol test, meaning that they should have no food or drink other than water during that time. However, recent guidelines have changed. They now allow doctors to recommend nonfasting cholesterol testing to certain groups of individuals. One • convenient • safe • no waiting required The author also states that research involving over 300,000 people suggests that nonfasting tests are at least as accurate as fasting tests at predicting future cardiovascular health problems. This paper suggests that the triglyceride level will rise by an average ...